Over the past three months we have offered free temporary memberships to people who would like to belong to the blog but cannot afford a membership during this time of crisis.  We have had nearly three thousand people take us up on that offer, and many have expressed real, heartfelt gratitude.

I would like to implement a similar program now but, with a different approach.  This may involve you.  From the beginning, none of the money from blog membership fees or direct donations has gone into any of our pockets; it doesn’t even pay for operating expenses.  And it never will.  Everything that comes in goes directly out to charities dealing with those in serious need.

I would like to be able to continue providing free memberships but do so without affecting the blog’s revenue – or even better, to increase it.  As many of you know, for a long time now, twice a year I have asked for donations for free one-year memberships for those who cannot afford one themselves.  That has been terrifically successful.  Now I want to implement a similar temporary plan as we still suffer along in this crisis.

A three-month membership is $7.95.  I would like to give out hundreds, thousands, quadrillions of those, for free, to anyone who very much wants one but simply cannot afford it.   That would require some donations.  Many of you could afford to give one; or ten; or a hundred quadrillion.  Hey, pick a number.  As you know, the sky, in this case, is not actually the limit.

For someone who was not a math major, increments of $7.95 are a bit tricky.  So how ’bout we just make it easy for ourselves and ask for donations of $8.00 / per three-month membership, and round it up or down as you yourself see fit.   If you donate three, and want to call it $25; great.  Or nine and call it $70, fine.  Or 452 and call it $3600, no problem.

What I would like is to get as many of these as I can, and when I see how it’s lookin’, put an announcement out there for anyone who needs one and is interested.  And so my question: ARE YOU WILLING TO DONATE?   One?  Seven?  Fifth-nine?  Seven thousand eight hundred and forty-two?   Anything you do will be massively appreciated, by me, by the person or persons who get them, and  by the cosmos at large.

If you want to participate, please do not make a comment indicating your intention here: instead, send me a private email at [email protected]; in the Subject Line, put “Donations for Blog.”  And in the message itself simply tell me how many three-month memberships you are willing to provide.

Once you do that, all you need to do is get on the blog; on the landing page click the bright red link: “Donate to the Blog,” and go from there.

Any questions or concerns, let me know.  Many, many thanks to all of you who are paying your well-earned money to be on the blog, and for those of you who have donated to the blog’s efforts in the past, and who are willing to contribute to this effort today.  I really appreciate it.